Advent of Light

*This was posted on beliefnet.com & shares some similarities w/ my Child of God Online article, but much shorter as it is a prayer for the season. Since it is uplifting, I am displaying it here (note: my Advent article is available here & on CoG Online).

Link: http://blog.beliefnet.com/prayerplainandsimple/2009/12/advent-prayer-day-13-coming-out-of-darkness.html
By: Claudia Mair Burney

“Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” John 3:1-2 NRSV

Why do you think Nicodemus came to Jesus at night? He already believed in him. Maybe the quiet nights, free from unruly crowds were the best time for Nicodemus to ask his most penetrating questions. Or maybe, he didn’t want the spiritual leaders he served with to know of his interest in Jesus. Jesus must have startled Nicodemus when he used the cloak of darkness surrounding them as a metaphor. He said, “For all who love evil hate the light, and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.” Be it fear, depression, ignorance, or the darkness of sin in our lives, many, many people come to Jesus in their night.

Light of the world,

I’m not wise or self-aware enough to truly know your motivations. God’s Word says, “the heart is devious above all else; it’s perverse–who can understand it.” I’m asking for you to illuminate me. Nicodemus, in coming to you, came to the light. Help me, beloved Jesus, to come out of any form of darkness that may be surrounding me. You are good to make yourself available to me in the night, but I want to know you in the warmth of your blazing sun.

“Come, Lord Jesus.”

The holiday season is upon us. It is the season of light. Light comes from the darkness. For Jews, the celebration of Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the candle that stayed lit for eight days. This miracle is recorded in the Roman Catholic Bible books of Maccabees and Jewish tradition.

For Christians, like myself, it celebrates the light of life that has come to Earth to save us from our sin. This would be the Nativity, the birth of Jesus Christ. For with his birth, the saving light to take away the darkness is here and now. There was a TV series called Miracles that was briefly on the air. In the series, the same message came across: “God is Now Here.”

Thus, with Christmas, the Advent, the coming of the Light, the Living Word, is here upon this Earth. May you all be blessed this season with love, life, and light. Amen.